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Kodak Ultra Color 100 & 400


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<p>I love UC400. Grain is very low, colors are full but not blocked up. It's my 400 speed color film for now (though I don't actually shoot much 400 speed color film...).

 

<p>Samples:<br>

<a href="http://www.pbase.com/romosoho/image/31002928">Water Lily</a><br>

<a href="http://www.pbase.com/romosoho/image/31002929">Some other flower</a><br>

<a href="http://www.pbase.com/romosoho/image/31002932">Some strange organic thing</a>

 

<p>allan

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Generally I hate color neg films - but 400UC is the exception. Scans with grain as good or better than any other neg film I've tried (except the discontinued Supra 100). 100UC doesn't live up to the qualities of its faster cousin - it's not bad - but it doesn't reduce the grain much for the 2-stop drop in speed. If I need slower than 400 speed in order to use larger apertures or longer exposures (blur, etc.), I prefer 160VC (or digital (wink)).

 

For some reason my scanner (Nikon LS-1000) much prefers Kodak's dyes to Fuji - the Kodak films scan dead neutral while the Fuji films scan with strong crossover casts (red shadows/cyan highlights) that are very hard to correct.

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Thanks for all your inputs. Allan, the UC400 shots look great, I need to try this film. I am scanning my film and have prints made from digital files if required. I have evaluated Kodak 160NC, 160VC, Fuji NPS, NPC, Reala, and Superia 200 (35mm), all others in medium format. I think the lab that processed the 160NC, 160VC, and Reala did not do a good job because the images look underexposed. I had the Fuji NPS, NPC, and Superia 200 processed by a professional photofinisher and the exposure looks correct. I have also tried Fuji Provia 100F, but I like negatives better because of the exposure latitude. I scan with a Nikon 9000ED scanner, which does an excellent job with both 35mm and medium format.
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Ctein tested the 100UC and 400UC films for the Sep/Oct 2004 issue

of Photo Techniques magazine, and he liked them both. I promise to

make no additional bad remarks about 100UC until I try it on Kodak

paper. Ctein's review had several internal contradictions, and he

shows a comparison image of 400NC and 400UC saying they had the same

low (grayscale) contrast, however his images show obviously higher

(green) shadow contrast in the 400UC.

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Based on answers the generous members of this forum provided me, I have just returned from a 2 week trip to Ireland, where I shot the 400 ISO UC. I was very concerned because of the heavy overcast and dark skies, together with incessant rain or drizzle, however, this film performed as recommended with little grain visible to me.

 

Add me to the list of folks recommending this product.

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I can't say much for UC 100 because the mere concept of a high saturation, 100 speed print film with good skin tones is an oxymoron. I still say this film has no purpose other than impress Kodak die hards that still think VPS is a general purpose film. Kodak needs to either bring back RG-25, or stop wasting our time.

 

UC 400 on the other hand is an incredible material that does everything well and nothing really bad.

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  • 3 weeks later...
I've tried 100UC and it's one of the best looking films I've used. Fine grain and vibrant colors. Colors are much richer and more attractive than those taken with my Nikon 100D digital SLR. The film scans perfectly. I generally do not like using high speed film because of grain, but I'll give the 400UC a try as well because of the positive recommendations.
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